Abstract
Here we report the effect of a partially purified alkaloid fraction (NUP) of Nuphar lutea on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression and studied its mechanism of toxicity against Leishmania major in C3H mice peritoneal macrophages. NUP was found to be a mixture of thermo-stable dimeric sesquiterpene thioalkaloids containing mainly thionupharidines. The anti-leishmanial activity was shown to be mediated through the activation of NF-κB and increased iNOS production. Additionally, the nitric oxide inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (0.5mM) totally reverted the anti-leishmanial effect of NUP (0.25 and 0.5μg/ml). NUP was also shown to act as an anti-oxidant, almost completely inhibiting the macrophage respiratory burst activity. However, no elevated lysozyme (EC3.2.1.17) or β-galactosidase (EC3.2.1.23) activities were demonstrated in macrophages treated with NUP. This study suggests, that the activity of NUP is mediated by NF-κB activation and the production of nitric oxide which is dependent on the l-arginine:NO pathway.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 510-516 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Experimental Parasitology |
Volume | 126 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Dec 2010 |
Keywords
- Amastigotes
- Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)
- Leishmania major
- Lysozyme (EC3.2.1.17)
- Mouse peritoneal macrophages
- N-monomethyl-l-arginine (NMMA)
- Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)
- Nuphar lutea
- Respiratory burst (RB)
- β-Galactosidase (EC3.2.1.23)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases